Home-made fuel filter for petrol strimmer?

Hi folks,
The filter on my pertrol strimmer is very old and blocked solid. A new part
costs an arm and a leg and would have to come from China, Japan or the US.
I'm guessing it would be simple to jerry-rig it by fixing a small piece of
cloth, sponge or something over the vacant filter housing, which dangles in
side the fuel tank, in the end of the neoprene fuel line. But obviously, it
's got to be something that won't dissolve in petrol or 50:1 mix. Would mic
ro-fiber do it? Or a piece of household sponge? Anything else you can sugge
st?
Thank you,
Al

Just cut the fuel line and add an in-line filter, available in various
sizes from eBay or from car/bike shops if you don't mind the silly price.
Or for that matter one of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Replacement-Strimmer-Trimmer-Brush-Cutter-Hose-Pipe-with-Fuel-Petrol-Tank-Filter/182577038233?_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226&_trkparms=aid%3D555014%26algo%3DPL.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D43781%26meid%3Dc4ab296683fb4d669dd88bef3f252a96%26pid%3D100506%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26
£1 from China, £2-50 from the UK

rt costs an arm and a leg and would have to come from China, Japan or the U
S.

f cloth, sponge or something over the vacant filter housing, which dangles
inside the fuel tank, in the end of the neoprene fuel line. But obviously,
it's got to be something that won't dissolve in petrol or 50:1 mix. Would m
icro-fiber do it? Or a piece of household sponge? Anything else you can sug
gest?

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I actually have a generic one on or
der now, but am looking for a quick fix to tide me over until it arrives. C
offee filter paper occurred to me, but as I don't have any in the house, I
decided to use a bit or "wet wipe" because I recall that they too, don't di
sintegrate when wet, and are more malleable/shapeable than coffee filter ma
terial.
Al

Thanks, I guess that's true, but knowing my luck, a bit of crud would still
find it's way into the jets somehow. My wet-wipe fix is working a treat: t
wo layers shaped over the head of the fuel filter housing, and held on by a
small zip-lock cable tie. Now I wish I hadn't ordered the real McCoy! ;-)
Al

ll find it's way into the jets somehow. My wet-wipe fix is working a treat:
two layers shaped over the head of the fuel filter housing, and held on by
a small zip-lock cable tie. Now I wish I hadn't ordered the real McCoy! ;-
)

Could one perhaps find some chemical that could remove the clogging material
itself?
What is it likely to be? I don't recall many old lawn mowers having much of
a fuel filter other than a bit of mess to stop big lumps of debris.
Brian

rt costs an arm and a leg and would have to come from China, Japan or the U
S.

f cloth, sponge or something over the vacant filter housing, which dangles
inside the fuel tank, in the end of the neoprene fuel line. But obviously,
it's got to be something that won't dissolve in petrol or 50:1 mix. Would m
icro-fiber do it? Or a piece of household sponge? Anything else you can sug
gest?

Before the advent of paper filters, the traditional material used was chamo
is leather.
Halfords.

And is often still used when refuelling light aircraft in the field from
a jerry can. A piece of chamois leather is embedded in the funnel.
(again to the ng instead of just to Harry - apologies Harry. B......
thunderbird. Why is it you think just after you press send rather than
just before was that a follow up or a reply. I will have to see about
removing that reply button)

I'd never have thought of chamois leather as being sufficiently porous to
allow a liquid to flow through it. I suppose a liquid other than water won't
cause the fibres to swell which would restrict its porosity.
I was going to suggest coffee filter paper.

Log in

HomeOwnersHub.com is a website for homeowners and building and maintenance pros. It is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.